The market is growing across Europe, with non-alcoholic beer accounting for two per cent of all beer sales. This includes an 11 per cent growth in one of the world's leading beer nations, Germany.

It's a similar trend here too. Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, recently declared that lower strength beers are "are a really great opportunity for the beer market."

Sales figures from Nielsen shows that 43million pints of non-alcoholic beer were drunk in the last year, up 27 per cent on 2017.

And generally as a nation we are drinking far less, with one in five people teetotal and many more reducing their alcohol intake.

You see, I can understand the second part of that. It's hard to criticise people who want to take better care of their physical and emotional well-being. If they believe that not drinking is the best option for them, I'm not going to be able to argue otherwise.

In fact, I carefully consider by own levels of consumption, particularly at this time of year. My work and social life means I spend lots of time in the pub, so I would be foolish not to.

There are times when I cut right back on alcohol and other food items in a bid to shed a few pounds and feel a bit better about myself.

But never in my four decades and some on this planet have I ever thought that an alcohol-free version of a beer or a spirit is something I would want to try.

I just mean, why?

Forgive me if I sound a little old fashioned and slightly off the PC path here, but isn't one of the joys of drinking the warmth and social relaxation that you can feel after a pint or two?

I'm not saying that you need alcohol for that feeling but denying that it has a positive benefit as a social lubricant would really beg the question as to why we have enjoyed fermented beverages for thousands of years longer than democracy.

Beer without alcohol? I just don't get it. It's like a football match without a football.

I can understand why you would go to a pub and not drink alcohol. I have (occasionally) been that person but soft drinks have always sufficed for me. There are even greater options available now that sugar reduction is such a big thing.

So why choose an alcohol-free beer or spirit when a soft drink is surely just as thirst-quenching?

Is it the taste? Is it to look as if you are part of the crowd? Do you generally just prefer them?

I really would like to know. So pubs who sell them and punters who drink them please let me know what it is that is making no alcohol free booze such a growth area.